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December 5, 2018

New Report Finds Arizonans Would Experience Significant Economic, Health, and Environmental Benefits Through Greater Use of Electric Vehicles

Arizona Corporation Commission and state utilities should work to facilitate the transition to transportation electrification

Phoenix, AZ (Dec. 5, 2018) – Today, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) and Western Resource Advocates (WRA) released a report estimating the impacts of greater plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) use in Arizona. The report, conducted by the independent consulting firm M.J. Bradley & Associates, found that increased adoption of clean PEVs would reduce utility costs for Arizona families, reduce transportation costs for drivers, support the local economy, and improve air quality for all Arizonans, among other benefits.

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) will hold an open meeting on December 17 to consider a new policy that could guide the state’s transition to clean and efficient electric vehicles.

“This report confirms that more electric vehicles on our roads would save Arizona drivers and ratepayers billions while cleaning up our air and improving public health,” said Adam Stafford, Western Resource Advocates staff attorney in Phoenix. “While Arizona has already taken steps to support greater use of electric vehicles, there is much more the state’s utilities can do to invest in clean car infrastructure and to meet increasing consumer demand for PEVs. WRA urges the Commission to swiftly approve a forward-thinking PEV policy that enables Arizonans to reap the many benefits of efficient electric cars.”

“The M.J. Bradley analysis shows that Arizona will reap enormous benefits from widespread adoption of electric vehicles,” said Will Toor, SWEEP’s director of transportation programs. “Not only will consumers save billions of dollars on the cost of fueling and maintaining their vehicles, but all utility ratepayers will benefit from lower electric bills, even if they don’t own a PEV, because PEVs allow our utilities to make more efficient use of their generating plants. The report also shows that there are big public health benefits that come from reduced tailpipe emissions. The net effect is over $31 billion in benefits to Arizona by 2050, if we adopt policies that support a shift to electric vehicles.”